Brewers primed to reverse fortunes in San Francisco
The Milwaukee Brewers have struggled in their last seven games at AT&T Park in San Francisco, winning just one while yielding an average of 6.6 runs per game.
They appear well positioned to reverse those trends during a three-game series beginning Monday, however, thanks to their strong pitching this month and an offensive slump by the Giants.
The Brewers' pitching staff has a .222 batting average against this month, which is the sixth lowest in the majors. It also has a 3.18 ERA this month (fifth in the NL), with 78 strikeouts and a major-league-low 23 walks.
Monday's starter, Chase Anderson, has been especially effective as of late, posting a 2.43 ERA in his past six starts and allowing opponents to hit just .156. The righty is 2-0 this month took a no-hitter into the sixth inning in his most recent outing, a win over the A's.
Chase Anderson 2016 -- first six starts vs. last six starts
Milwaukee on Monday will face Matt Cain, who has posted a 5.20 ERA in 10 starts (53 2/3 innings) this season. He will be making his first start since returning from the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring.
The Brewers' most veteran hitters, Aaron Hill, Ryan Braun and Jonathan Lucroy, are each batting above .300 against the 31-year-old.
Lucroy, who turns 30 Monday, has a .315 average (39 for 124) all time vs the Giants and a .297 average (19 for 64) with nine RBI, zero walks and eight strikeouts at AT&T Park. His.287 batting average since 2013 ranks third by catchers with more than 1,000 plate appearances, trailing only Yadier Molina and the Giants' Buster Posey.
Highest Batting Average by Catchers, 2013-2016 (minimum 1000 PA; based on players' primary 2016 position)
Posey has been effective in his career against Anderson, notching three hits in seven at-bats. Anderson has struggled overall against San Francisco (1-2, 8.53 ERA in 12 2/3 innings) but did perform well in his only outing at AT&T Park, allowing just one hit, one walk and no earned runs over seven innings almost one year ago to the date (June 12).
The start was arguably the best of Anderson's major-league career, a feat he certainly hopes to repeat on Monday.
Information courtesy STATS Inc.
